Need advice for large apt complex bid

I have been asked to bid on a 500 unit apartment complex covering over 40 acres in east Louisiana. It is a "luxury" property and less than 3 years old. I have never been asked to bid on anything this large, but as this is where I want my business to go, I want to bid on it in such a way that I'm not going out so far on a limb....either I'm making good money, or I lose the bid all together. I don't want to just barely squeeze by for this big of a challenge.

It has a myriad of small strips and islands surrounded by curbs. It has a 3-4 acre walking track.

Can anyone with apartment experience in the southeast give me some ball park figures for monthly (mowing only) maintenance? I will be bidding on the landscape maintenance too, but that will be a separate bid.

I don't do anything that big either, but post pics, and tell us how many people you have in a crew. it may be worth hiring more people so that you can get it done in a day and not have to go there twice. if you do have to go there twice, it should be included in your bid.

you have to watch out that this account does not become more than 20% of your revenue. if it is any bigger than that, that account will control you, and you will not have the option of getting out later because you will NEED that account to stay in business.

i

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I will try to take some digital pictures and re-post in a few days. I've always wanted to get into the apartment maint. market. This account, should I win the bid, would definitely be more than 20% of my business. However, the manager (who manages multiple properties) told me that they'd be willing to sign a 2-3 year contract after a 6 month trial period. That would give me a little more security.

As far as crew size goes, I think that I could get it done in one full day with a 3-man crew.

I forgot to mention in my earlier post that they currently pay a full-time maintenance guy a salary of $25K to keep it up. The property owner provides all equipment, fuel, and materials. However, he does a crappy job.

25K is only the salary. Plus 30% for taxes brings you to $32,500 Plus $5 per hour in operation costs (low estimate) $10,000 so you are now at $42,500 for current expense to the complex. Plus materials expenses if they do mulching or the like.

So as a rough check that is getting you $1000 per cut.

Obviously not the best way to estimate a bid but gives you an idea of what they might be paying now.

If you don't know your costs, you can't bid right. If you don't bid right, you can't make money, If you can't make money, become a Wal-mart greeter.

25K is only the salary. Plus 30% for taxes brings you to $32,500 Plus $5 per hour in operation costs (low estimate) $10,000 so you are now at $42,500 for current expense to the complex. Plus materials expenses if they do mulching or the like.

So as a rough check that is getting you $1000 per cut.

Obviously not the best way to estimate a bid but gives you an idea of what they might be paying now.

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1,000 per cut would seem low....apt complex's can have lots of trimming which will kill your time on the job and lot's of people to work around.....I have heard that apt.'s are slow payers also...drag in out to 60-90 days...keep that in mind when bidding.

1,000 per cut would seem low....apt complex's can have lots of trimming which will kill your time on the job and lot's of people to work around.....I have heard that apt.'s are slow payers also...drag in out to 60-90 days...keep that in mind when bidding.

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agreed, I am just saying that $1000 is a ballpark on what their expenses are now. Obviously, if they are getting crappy work done they may have figured out that they need to pay more. And you can always play up the fact that they are no longer liable for workers comp, You have a crew that can do more stuff, be more responsive, whatever sales pitch you need to justify the increased expense. "you know better looking landscape will bring better paying renters".

I would get the contract set up so you are net 30 on payments or they pay a 2% penalty. Additional 2% penalty at net 60 or something. Dis incentive them about late paying.

I would also set up my contract to have 12 equal billings not a per cut system. I would build in yearly price increases of 2-4%.

If you don't know your costs, you can't bid right. If you don't bid right, you can't make money, If you can't make money, become a Wal-mart greeter.